Apparatus for feeding tobacco to cigarette-making machines



July 30, 1963 N. R. F. MORTIMER APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TOBACCO TOCIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1961 3 sheets-Sheet 1 NVENT RF. MoRTiMER At y- 3m EN EN NQN NOEL R llllm July 30, 1963 MORTlMER3,099,492

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TOBACCO 'I'O CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINES zSheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1951 NOE INVENT R NOEL R. MORTIMER 3,9,i92Patented July 30, 1963 3,999,492 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TUBAQCO TOCIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINES Noel R. F. Mortimer, Guildtord, Surrey,England, assiguor to Vokes Limited, Guildford, urrey, England Filed July12, 1961, Ser. No. 123,480 7 Claims. (Cl. 30228) This invention concernsimprovements in apparatus for feeding cult tobacco (rag) from a singlefeed-in point to several tobacco utilising machines.

In the pneumatic conveying of tobacco to cigarettemaking machines it isaccepted practice to employ a discharger at each machine which, when itis filled by separation of rag from the air stream to a desired level,opens to allow its contents to fall into the feed hopper of the machine.

It is now common to employ a single exhaust fan to draw tobacco from thesingle feed-in point (normally hand-fed) to one or more of the severalcigarette-making machines. In such known systems maximum efliciency isreached only when the exhaust fan is operating at maximum capacity; and,since there are times when none of the machines is being fed and whensupply conduits must be emptied to ensure effective conveyance of ragupon a resumption of feed, a considerable waste of time is involved.

It is the object of the invention to provide a tobaccofeeding system andautomatic control therefor which will increase efficiency and cut downtime wastage.

According to the invention I provide a tobacco feeding system for anumber of tobacco-utilising machines in which there is an intermittentdemand for tobacco from each machine wherein a pneumatic suctionoperated feeding system is employed to draw tobacco from a single feederdevice through one or more conduits to dischargers associated with eachmachine characterised by the provision of control mechanism includingsearching means by which an immediate demand for feed is signalled fromany one discharger to the feeder device and means including a starterfor the feeder and feed-diverting means operated upon conclusion of feedto a discharger operable either to stop the feeder device or to divertits output to another machine signalling a demand.

In preferred forms of feeding systems a sensing device and switchassociated with a hopper of each tobacco utilising machine are employedto signal a demand for feed to that individual machine. A multi-way camtimer rotated several times a minute searches contactors of controlcircuits associated with each utilising machine. When it makesconnection with a contactor of an individual control circuit signallinga demand electric circuits are completed for operating a flap causingpneumatic feed to the discharger in question and for starting the feederdevice if this is not already in operation.

Further in preferred forms of the invention a contact operated when anindividual discharger is ready for emptying completes a circuit whichcloses an air-trip valve at the feeder device ensuring the emptying ofthe initial section of the feeder conduit.

A time-delay switch permits actual emptying of the individual discharger(by the closing of a flap valve isolating it from suction) and operationof the feeder device starter is deferred until such time as thatindividual discharger has operated correctly.

The following example of one form of the invention is given by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of the general control system,

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of that part of the control systemassociated with one individual feed point, and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a feed system to which the controlis applied.

The system illustrated in the drawings for controlling a pneumatic feedsystem such as that shown in FIG. 3 involves six tobacco utilisingmachines 1 to 6, each fed from a separate hopper 7 to 12 through anopening covered by a flap 13 to 13. There is a switch S S S S S S ineach hopper 7 to 12, which closes when the hopper is empty.

The individual hoppers 7 to 12 are fed from a main feeder 19 withtobacco drawn by suction along a main conduit 20, and branch conduits 21to 26, one conduit leading to each hopper.

The other end of each hopper is connected to a suction pipe 27 to 32,which pipes join in a main suction conduit 33 which has a suction unit34 at its other end.

There is an air trip 35 in the conduit 2e and each of the suction pipes27 to 32 can be sealed off from suction by a flap 36 to 41.

These flaps 36 to 41 are controlled by solenoids L to L which form partof a subsection A B C D E F of the control system which is associatedwith each hopper 7 to 12 (see FIG. 2).

The main part of the control system (see FIG. 1) which is common to allhoppers 7 to 12, is located in a main control panel 42.

The part of the control circuit associated with the main control panel42 has its input through a live terminal 161 and a neutral terminal 102and an input switch 103.

A neutral line P links the neutral part of the switch 103 to thejunction points 104 to Hit.

A single live line P joins the live part or" the switch 103 to thejunction point 111 and this line includes a power fuse F and thejunction point 112.

Two live lines P and P originate from junction point 111. Line Pincludes contacts C associated with a delay circuit T and links thejunction points 113 to 118. Line P forms a loop line to junction point104 and includes junction points 119 to 125, 126 and 133'. A line Poriginating at junction point 119 links junction points 127 to 13 1.

A timer motor 132 is connected in line P between points and 126 inparallel with the coil L of a relay having a single set of contacts Cwhich are normally closed.

Six five contact make and break relays A, B, C, D, E, F are included inthe circuit, one associated with each control A to P Each relay has acoil L and five contacts R R R R R of which R is in opposition to R R Rand R which are normally open.

A path can be established between one end of each coil L and theappropriate junction point 121 to 125 through one of the contactswitches C C C C C C operated by the timer motor 132.

The contacts R of all six relays are in the loop line P and theenergising of any one coil L will break this loop line. This wouldresult in the coil being de-energised but for the establishing of aholding circuit including contacts R and R the coil L and a fuse i (asshown in relay D of the drawing from point 108 in the neutral line P topoint 116 in the live line P One end of each contact R is connected toline P save for the contact R of relay A which is connected to junctionpoint 133 in line R, but since no contact R lies between point 133 andpoint 119, it is the same as if it were connected to line P One end ofeach contact R is connected to a common line P which contains junctionpoint 134.

From point 134 a line P including the contacts of an air trip 135, astarter coil L (actuating contacts C point 137 and the contacts C leadsto point 126.

A line P including contacts C a sensing device 138, resistance 139 andthe delay circuit T links points 137 and 112.

Four conductors lead fron1 each relay A to F, to the correspondingcontrol A to P They originate at the free ends of contacts R and R theend of the coil far from the contact C to C and one of the points 105 to111) in the neutral line P.

The conductors are shown as 201, 202, 203, 204 in all six cases in FIG.1 and the one set appearing in FIG. 2 are numbered in the same way.

In that pant of the control circuit shown in FIG. 2, say that associatedwith relay D, there is a circuit between conductors 203 and 284 whichincludes one arm 140 of a double isolating switch and the hopper switchS There is a circuit from conductor 204 to conductor 202 through thesolenoid L the other arm 141 of the isolating switch and a thermal trip14-2. An indicator I is connected in parallel with the solenoid L andthere is a connection from the solenoid L through the tobacco flap 39 toconductor 210.

Assuming the control system is at rest and switches 103, Md and 142 areclosed, and a hopper switch, say S is closed indicating a demand, acircuit is formed when the timer 132 closes contact C The coil L of therelay D is energised and the switch R breaks the loop P The contacts R Rof the relay D make the hold circuit and the coil L remains energised.

At the same time these two contacts R R put switch S into a neutralcircuit to the point 108 so that the contact C is independent of furthermovements of S The closing of contact R energizes L and the closing ofcontact R flap 39, and contact R puts the contacts 135 of the air trip35 in a live cricuit. The air trip 35 operates and energises the feederstarter coil L immediately the air velocity in the conveying pipe 24}has reached a satisfactory level for feed. At the termination of feed,the tobacco flap 39 opens to break the circuit.

The system for controlling the feeder starter 34, and for disconnectingthe solenoid valves 36 to 41, includes the feeder starter 34- itselfwith one pair of normally closed auxiliary contacts C a normally closedcontact C of a single pole relay, and a delayed action relay T with asingle set of normally closed contacts C In the action of the maincontrol panel 42, it will be seen that once a contactor C to C isengaged the time motor 132 must stop when the particular cam breaks itscontact. The coil L of the single pole relay is coupled across the timermotor 132 so that when this occurs its contacts C complete a neutralcircuit to the feeder starter coil L the live circuit having previouslybeen explained.

The starter coil L will then energise and break its normally closedauxiliary contacts C thus preventing the delayed relay T from operating.At termination of feed the discontinuance of the live circuit to thefeeder starter coil L will release this, completing the neutral circuitto delayed relay T which will energise after four seconds, disconnectingC and breaking the live holding line P to the contacts R R and the coilL will deenergise, releasing the solenoid valve 39 and allowing materialto feed into the receiving hopper 4. It will be seen that should the airtrip 35 not close, indicating that there is a fault in the pneumaticcircuit, or in the solenoid L operation in this circuit, the feeder 34will not be started and the neutral circuit to the delayed relay T willbe maintained completed until the relay D functions to release thecontactor C and solenoid L as before.

It will be appreciated that the principle of the invention is notrestricted to the features enumerated in the above exemplary system andthat modifications of circuit and supply connections achieving similarresults will ocd cur to those conversant with the design of electricalcontrols.

I claim:

1. A tobacco feeding apparatus including a bulk storage hopper, a numberof tobacco-utilizing machines each having an intermittent demand fortobacco, signaling means associated with each machine for signaling sucha demand, a discharger including a hopper associated with each machine,a single mechanical feeder device including at least one conduitconnecting said feeder device to said dischargers for drawing tobaccofrom the bulk hopper, and pneumatic suction means for conveying tobaccothrough said conduits, in combination with a fully automatic controlmechanism comprising scanning means for continuously scanning the demandsignaling means by which an immediate demand for feed is signaled fromany one tobacco utilizing machine to the feeder device, and feedercontrol means including a starter for the feeder and feed-divertingmeans operable upon conclusion of feed to a discharger either to stopthe feeder device or to divert its output to another machine signaling ademand.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signaling meanscomprises a sensing device and a switch associated with a hopper of eachtobacco-utilizing machine.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said scanning meanscomprises a multi-Way cam timer rotated several times a minute, saidsignaling means includes control circuits having contactors associatedwith each utilizing machine, said feed diverting means includes a flapassociated with each hopper, and said feeder control means includeselectric circuits for operating said flaps, said timer being soconnected and arranged that when it makes connection with a contactor ofan individual machine control circuit signaling a demand the associatedflap operating circuit is closed causing pneumatic feed to theassociated machine discharger and energizing the starter for the feederdevice when not already in operation.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein an air trip valve isprovided in said conduit near said feeder device and each of saiddischargers is provided with a contact operated when the individualdischarger is ready for emptying, said contact completing a circuitwhich closes said air trip valve at the feeder device ensuring theemptying of that portion of the conduits connecting the feeder to thesaid individual discharger.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein said control mechanism includesa time-delay switch for closing said flaps to isolate the dischargersfrom suction permitting emptying of the individual dischargers anddeferring operation of the feeder device starter until such time as anindividual discharger has operated correctly.

6. A tobacco feeding apparatus including a bulk storage hopper, a numberof tobacco-utilizing machines each having an intermittent demand fortobacco, a hopper on each machine, signaling means associated with eachof said hoppers for signaling, such a demand including a sensing deviceand a switch, a single mechanical feeder device drawing tobacco from thebulk hopper, at least one conduit connecting said feeder device to saidhoppers, and pnuematic suction means to draw tobacco through saidconduits to said hoppers, in combination with a fully automatic controlmechanism comprising scanning means for continuously scanning the demandsignaling means, feeder control means including a starter for the feederand feed-diverting means including flaps operatable upon conclusion offeed to a hopper either to stop the feeder device or to divert itsoutput to another machine signaling a demand, control circuits includinga contactor associated with each utilizing machine, said scanning meansincluding a multi-way cam timer rotated several times a minute to searchsaid contacts, the timer being arranged so that when it makes connectionwith a contactor of an individual control circuit signaling a demand,electric circuits are completed for operating said flap associated withthe feed diverting means causing pneumatic feed to the demand signalinghopper and for starting the feeder device if this is not already inoperation, and an air trip valve in said conduit near the feederarranged to close when a contact operated when an individual hopper isready for emptying completes an appropriate circuit, thus ensuring theemptying of the section of the said conduit between the feeder and saiddemand signaling hopper.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which each hopper is providedwith a flap valve isolating it from suction and said control mechanismincludes a time delay switch to permit actual emptying of eachindividual hopper by closing said isolating flap valves and to deferopera- 6 tion of the feeder device starter until such time as anindividual hopper has operated correctly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,941,190 Schneider Dec. 26, 1933 2,195,407 Craggs Apr. 2, 19402,310,460 Randolf Feb. 9, 1943 2,828,873 Arlin Apr. 1, 1958 2,861,840Powischill Nov. 25, 1958 2,972,500 Esenwein Feb. 21, 1961

1. A TOBACO FEEDING APPARATUS INCLUDING A BULK STORAGE HOPPER, A NUMBEROF TOBACCO-UTILIZING MACHINES EACH HAVING AN INTERMITTENT DEMAND FORTOBACCO, SIGNALING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH MACHINE FOR SIGNALING SUCHA DEMAND, A DISCHARGE INCLUDING A HOPPER ASSOCIATED WITH EACH MACHINE, ASINGLE MECHANICAL FEEDER DEVICE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE CONDUITCONNECTING SAID FEEDER DEVICE TO SAID DISCHARGES FOR DRAWING TOBACCOFROM THE BULK HOPPER, AND PNEUMATIC SUCTION MEANS FOR CONVEYING TOBACCOTHROUGH SAID CONDUITS, IN COMBINATION WITH A FULLY AUTOMATIC CONTROLMECHANISM COMPRISING SCANNING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SCANNING THE DEMANDSIGNALING MEANS BY WHICH AN IMMEDIATE DEMAND FOR FEED IS SIGNALED FROMANY ONE TOBACCO UTILIZING MACHINE TO THE FEEDER DEVICE, AND FEEDERCONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A STARTER FOR THE FEEDER AND FEED-DIVERTINGMEANS OPERABLE UPON CONCLUSION OF FEED TO A DISCHARGER EITHER TO STOPTHE FEEDER DEVICE OR TO DIVERT ITS OUTPUT TO ANOTHER MACHINE SIGNALING ADEMAND.